Art of distilling hydrocarbon oils



l, i932., w. H. BAHLKE ART 0F DISTILLING HYDRocARBoN ons Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. BAHLKE, OF WHITIN G, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR STANDARD OIL COMPANY,

0F WRITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION INDIAN ABT 0F DISTILLING HYDROCABBON OILS Original application tiled tlctober 21,1926, Serial No. 143,150. Divided. and this application led October 3, 1927. Serial No. 223,637.

grammatically a suitable apparatus for such distillation. l

Referring to the drawing, 10 is an oil supply pipe which leads through a series of heat exchange coils 11,12, 13, 14 and 15 and pipe 16 to a separating chamber 17, provided with a vapor outlet 18 and a liquid outlet 19 which leads to a coil 20 heated by a suitable furnace' 21. A steam pipe 22 leads into pipe 19, and a pipe 23 connects the pipes 16 and 19 in parallel with the separating chamber 17, the pipes 16, 19 and 23 being provided with suitable valves so that said chamber may be by-passed if desired. The coils 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are suitably located, as will'be further. described, to effect a. substantial preheating'of the incoming crude oil. From the heated coil 20,

a pipe 24. leads to an enlarged separation` chamber 25, provided with a tar outlet 26 and a'vapor outlet 27. The tar outlet 26 leads to a suitable heat exchanger 28 within which the coil 15 is located, the incoming crude oil being preheated by the outgoing tar.r Y

The vapor outlet 27 of the chamber 25 leads into the base of a rectifying column 29,

' provided at itsbottom with a liquid outlet 30, and at its top with a vapor outlet 31. The liquid outlet 3Q of the rectiying column 29, vis suitably trapped so as to constitute a liquid seal'therein, thereby preventing upward pas-` sage of steam or vapors therethrough; and

' leads to the top of a stripping column 32.

The vaporgputlet 31- of the rectifying column 29, leads to the base of a rectifying column 33,

providedI at itsl bottom with a liquid outlet 34 and at its top with a vapor outlet 35. The liquid outlet 34 of the rectiymg column 33 is suitably trapped so as to constitute a liquid seal therein, thereby preventing upward passage of steam or vapors therethrough, and leads to the top of a stripping column 36. The vapor outlet 35 of the rectifying column 33 leads'to the base of a rectifying column 37, vprovided at its bottom with a liquid outlet 38, and at its top with a vapor outlet 39. The llquid outlet 38 of the rectifying column 37 1s sultably trapped so as to constitute a. liquid 'seal therein, thereby preventing upward passage of steamor vapors therethrough, and leads to the top of a stripping column 40. The vapor outlet 39 of the rectifying column 37, leads to the base of a rectifying column 41, provided at its bottom with a liquid outlet 42 and at its top with a vapor outlet 43, which leads to a suitable condenser 44. TheY liquid outlet 42 of the rectifying column 41,'is suit ably trapped so as to constitute a liquid Seal therein, thereby preventing upward passage of'steam or vapors therethrough andaleads to 1 the topi of a stripping column 45. The vapor outlet 18 of the chamber 17 is connected by valved branches 18 to the vapor inlets 27, 31, 35 and 39 of the rectifying columns 29, 33, 37 and 41, so that the vapors separated in chamber 17 may be supplied to any desired one or more of the rectiyingcolumns. The heatexchange coils 11, 12, 13 and 14 are located in the upper portions of the rectifying columns 41, 37, 33 and 29 respectively thereby progressively heating the incoming crude oil and effecting a partial condensation of oil vapors within the rectiying columns, thereby providing them with reflux.

The stripping column 32 is provided at its base with a pipe 46 for admission of free steam thereinto and a liquid outlet 47 and atrits top with avapor outlet 48 which leads to a conf denser 49 which feeds into a receiver 50. The receiver 50 is provided near its base with a valved outlet 5 1 which leads into the stripping column 36 near its top. At its top the receiver-50 is provided with a pipe 52, leading to a condenser 53, which feeds into ay receiver 54,- provided with a gauge glass 55 and water and oil outlets 56 and 57 near its bottom and top respectively. A valved pipe 58 connects with 100 the pipe 51 and leads to a pump 59, the outlet of which feeds into an intermediate point in the rectifying column 29.

The stripping column 36 is provided at its base with a pipe 61 for admission of free steam thereinto and a liquid outlet 62 and at its top with a vapor outlet 63, leading to a condenser 64, which feeds into a receiver 65. The receiver 65 is provided near its base with a valved outlet 66 which leads into the stripping column 40 near its top. At its top the receiver 65 is provided with a pipe 67, leading to a condenser 68, which feeds into a receiver 69, provided witha gauge glass `70 and water and oil outlets 71 and 72, near its bottom and top respectively. A valved pipe 73 connects with the pipe 66 and leads to a pump 74, the outlet 75 of which feeds into an intermediate point in the rectifying column 33. f

The stripping column 40 is provided at its base with a pipe 76 for admission of free steam thereinto and a liquid outlet 77 and at its top with a vapor outlet 78 leading to a condenser 79, which feeds into a receiver 80. The receiver 80 is provided near its base with a valved outlet 81, which leads into the stripping colulnn 45 near its top. At its top the receiver 80 is provided with a pipe 82 leading to a condenser 83, which feeds into a receiver 84, provided with a .gauge glass and water kand oil outlets 86 and 87, near its bottom and top respectively.' A valved pipe 88 connects with the pipe 81 and leads to a pump 89, theoutlet 90 of which feeds into an yintermediate point in the rectifying column 37.

,The stripping column 45 is provided at its base with a pipe 91 for admission of free steam therei'nto and a liquid outlet 92 and at its top with a vapor outlet 93 leading to a condenser 94 which feeds into. a receiver 95. The receiver 95 is provided near its base with an outlet 96l which leads to a pump 97, the outlet ,98 of which feeds into an intermediate point in the rectifying column 41. At its top the receiver 95 is provided with af pipe 99 .leading to a condenser 100, which feeds into a receiver 101, provided with a gauge glass 102 and water and oil outlets 103 .and 104.

near its bottom and top respectively.

' descending liquids.

The rectifying and stripping columns are provided internally with bubble-cap plates or other suitable means for effecting thorough contact treatment of ascending vapors with The operation is as follows. Crude tronleum is pumped into pipe 10 through co1ls 11,

. 12, 13 and 14, being thereby preheated by the, vapors in rectifying 'columns 41, 37, 33 and 29 and at the same time effecting a partial condensation of vapors therein. The pre; heated oil proceeds tothe coil 15 in the tar heat exchanger 28 andthence through pipe 16 to a separating chamber `17 the separated vthe furnace 21 to about 800 F. The heated oil passes from the coil 20 by pipe 24 to separating chamber 25 in which a substantial proportion of the oil separates as vapor and passes to rectifying tower 29 by pipe 27 be` ing augmented by the 'vapors separated inV chamber 17 and supplied to pipe 27 by pipes 18 and 18.l The residue of tar which may amount to about 5% of the crude oil passes olf by pipe 26 to the heat exchanger 28 in which it imparts part of the heat to the in- "coming oil passing through coil 15.

The vapors from pipes 27 and 18 ascend through the rectifying elements in column 29,

being thereby thoroughly contacted with the l descending reflux condensed by heat exchange .coil 14 and, if desired, with reflux supplied by pipe 60, and deprived of their heav1est constituents. The liquid from the bottom of column 29 passes by pipe 30 to column 32 through which it descends in countercurrent to ascending steam admitted by'pipe 46 and the oil vaporsv produced in the column. The steam passes upwardly throu h column 32 effecting the stripping of the escending heavy oil, and nallyemerges by pipe 48 accompanied by vapors and -proceeds to condenser-49 which is 'controlled so as to condense practically all the oil but little or no steam.

The condensed oil collects in'receiver 50 from which it passes by pipe 51 and the uncon- `in the receiver 54 can be removed by outlet 57 `when desired. The oil passin from receiver 50 by'pipe 51 may be allowe to pass to the top of stripping column 36 or may b e pumped by pipe 58, pumpv 59 and pipe 60 to an intermediate point of the rectifying column 29,. to serve as reflux therein, or a part of the oil may be passed to each column 29 and 36. The colunm 32 is operated so as to yield by pipe 47, a heavy paralin distillate constituting about 19% of the original crude oil. .l

The `vapors from column 29 pass by pipe -31 to the base of column 33 and ascend therethrough, being thereby thoroughly contacted with the descendingrefluxderived by partial condensation of vapors by the oil passing through vcoil 13, and if desired, with reflux .supplied by pipe 75. The reliuxed oil from the base of tower 33 passes by pipe 34 to the top of column 36, being augmented, if desired, by oil from receiver 50 which may be supplied to the column 36 by pipe 51. The liquid passes downwardly through column36 being therein subjected to the action of ascendlng steam admitted at the base of the tower 36 by pipe 6l. y After paing up through the stripping column 36, they steam and oil vapors pass by pipe 63 to condenser 64, which is controlled so as to condense practically all the oil but little or no steam. The

condensed oil collects in receiver 65 from which it passes by pipe 66, and the uncondensed' steam is removed by pipe 67, leading to condenser 68 in which the steam is condensed and the water collected in receiver 69.

Any oil vapors accompanying the steam are likewise condensed and the oil collecting in the receiver 69, can be removed by outlet 72, when desired. The oil passing from receiver 65 by pipe 66 may be allowed to pass to the top of stripping column 40 or may-be pumped by pipe 73, pum 74, and pipe 75 to an intermediate point o the rectifying column 33 to serve asretlux therein, or a part of the oil ma column 36 is operated so as to yield by pipe 62, a paraiiin distillate constituting about 19% of the original crude oil.

The vapors from rectifying column 33 pass by pipe to the base of recti ing column 37, and ascend therethroug being thereby thoroughly contacted with the descending reflux derived from partial condensation of vapors by the oil passing through coil 12 in the top of the column, and` if desired, with reiux supplied by pipe 90. The reflux oil from column 37 passesV by pipe 38 to the top of the stripping column 40 being augmented, if desired, by oil from receiver 65, which may be supplied to the column 40 by pipe 66. The liquid descends through the column 40 in countercurrent to steam, admitted by pipe 76 and vapors stripped from the descending oil. After passing up through the stripping column 40, the steam and oil vapors pass by pipe 78 to condenser 79, which is controlled so as to condense practically ally the oil but little or no steam. The

condensed oil collects in receiver 80, from which itpasses by pipe 81 and the uncondensed steam is removed by pipe 82 leading to condenser 83 in which the steam is condensed and the water collected in receiver 84. Any oil vapors accompanying the steam are likewise condensed and the oil collecting in the receiver 84 can be removed by outlet 87, when desired. The oil passing from receiver 80 by pipe 81 may be allowed to pass to `the top of stripping column or may be pumped bypipe 88,'pump 8,9 and pipe 90 to an intermedlate point of the rectifying column 37 to serve as reflux therein, or a part of the oil may be passed to each column 37 and 45. The column 40 is operated so asto yield by pipe 77-gas oil constituting about 15% of the original crude oil.

The vapors from rectifying colunm 37 pass by pipe 39 `to .the base of rectifying column 41 and ascend therethrough, being thoroughly contacted with the descending reflux derived from partial condensation of vapors by the oil passing through coil 11 in the top of the column, and with reflux supplied by pipe 98, The vapors from the rectifying column 41 pass'by pipe 43 to condenser 44, giving a yield of rectified gasoline amounting to about 32% of the original crude oil. The retluxed oil from column 41 passes by -pipe i42 t-o the top of the stripping column 45, being augmented, if desired, by oil from receiver 80, which may be supplied to the column 45 by pipe 81. The liquid descends through the column 45, in countercurrent to steam admitted by ipe 91 and vapors stripped from the descendlng oil.

After passing through the stripping column 45, the steam and vapors pass by pipe 93 to condenser 94, which is controlled so as Y y to condense practically all the oil but little Abe passed to each column 33 and 40. The

or no steam. The condensed oil collects in receiver 95 and is pumped therefrom by pipe 96, pump 97 and pipe 98 to an intermediate point of rectifying column 41. The uncondensed steam passes from receiver 95 by pipe 99 to condenser 100 in which the steam is condensed and the water passes to receiver 101. Any oil vapors accompanyin the steam are likewise condensed and the o1l col lecting in the receiver 101 can be removed by outlet 104, when desired. The Vcolumn 45 is operated so as to yield by pipe 92 refined oil colnstituting about 10% of the original crude o1 The character and vield of the fractions drawn oif by pipes 47, 62, 77'and 92 `from the stripping columns 32, 36, 40 and 45 can readily be controlled by regulatingV the amountof steam sup lied thereto by pipes 46, 61, 76 and 91. e removal of water from the receivers 54, 69, 84, and 101A is controlled by the valves on pipes 56, 71, 86 and to. the upper portion of columns 40 and 45,

respectively. 5By means of the above connections, any portion of the oil condensate may be withdrawn from line 58 and passed to either or both of the columns 40 and 45.

It is to be understood that while a particular treatment of luid-Continent crude petroleum has ben described by way of example, the invention is not limited thereto, since the process may be readily adapted to provide a different range of products and may also be used for the treatment of other crude petro-x leums and other petroleum mixtures. It is further to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to" the apparatus or method of operation described herein, except by the terms of the appende claims.

I claim:

l. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils which consists in vaporizing the oil, subjecting the vapors to two successive partial condensing and vrectifying operations, subjecting the condensate from theZ-first partial condensing and rectifying operation to the stripping action of steam, separately condensing oil from the steam and vapors from said stripping operation, and subjecting the condensed oil together with the condensate from the second partial condensing and rectifying operation to the strippingaction of steam. i 1

2. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils which consists in vaporizing the oil, subjecting the vapors to a series .of partial condensing and rectifying operations, subjecting the condensates therefrom separately to the stripping action of steam, kseparately condensing oil from the steam from the overheads from said stripping operations and supplying the-oil condensed from said'overheads to one of the subsequent'strippmg operatlons.

3. The methodof distillingvhydrocarbon oils which comprises passing a confined stream of oil through a .heating zone to a separating chamber, removing the vapors from the separating chamber, subjecting said vapors to a series of partial condensing and rectifying operations, subjecting the rectified condensate from each of said operations to a stripping'operation with steam, separately condensingoil from the steam and vapors' from one of said/'..stripping operations, and supplying the condensed oil to one ofthe subsequent stripping operations. l

4. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils which .comprises passing a confined stream of oil through a heating zone tofa separating chamber, removing the vapors from the separating chamber, subjecting said vapors to a series of partial condensing and rectifying operations, subjecting the rectified condensate` from `each ofl said operations to separate 'stripping operations withj steam, separately condensing oil from the steam from the overheads from said stripping operations, and supplying the oil from sald overheads to one of the subsequent stripping operations in the system.

5. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils which comprises passing a confined stream of oil through a heating zone to a separating chamber, separately removing tar and vapors from said chamber, passing said vapors through a series of rectifying columns, and condensing the final vapors therefrom, passing the incoming oil in heat exchange relationship with the vapors in the upper portion of said columns whereby the incoming oil is preheated and part of the vapors is condensed to form reflux for the columns, passing the incoming oil in heat exchange relationship with the tar produced whereby it is further preheated, removing rectified condensate from each rectifying column to a corresponding stripping column, subjecting the condensate in each stripping column to the action of steam and separately withdrawing the stripped liquid fractions thus produced, subjecting the steam and vapors from the stripping columns to a separate condensation operation and removing steam' therefrom, and supplying the oil condensed lfrom the steam and vapors from each strippingcolumn to the next subsequent stripping column.

6. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils which comprises passing a confined stream of oil through a heating zone to a separating chamber, separately removing tar and vapors from said chamber, passing said vapors through a series of rectifying columns, and condensing the final vapors therefrom, passing the incoming oil in' heat exchange relationship with the vapors in the upper portion of said columns whereby the incoming oil is preheated and part of the vapors is condensed to form refiux for the columns, passing the incoming oil in heat exchange relationship with the tar produced whereby it is further preheated, removing light vapors from the oil thus preheated and supplying same to one of said rectifying columns, supplying steam to the oil and passing it to said heating zone, removing rectified condensate from each rectifying column to a corresponding stripping column, subjecting the condensate in each stripping column to the action o steam, l

jecting the steam and'vapors from the stripping columns to condensation and removing steam therefrom, and supplying the condensed oil from the steam and vapors from each stripping column to the next subsequent stripping column.

7. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils which consists in vaporizing the oil, subjecting the vapors to a series of partial consates therefrom separately to the stripping action of steam, 'separately condensing oil from the steam-and vapors from the stripping operations, and supplying the conseparately withdrawing the stripped liquid fractions thus produced, subdensing operations, subjecting the conden stripping operation a densed oil to the next sub operation.

8. The metho oils which consi jecting the va densing andy 1y subjecting sequent stripping d of distilling hydrocarbon sts in vaporizing the oil, subpors to a series of partial conrectifying operations, separatethe condensates therefrom to the strlpping action of steam, separately condensing oil from the steam and vapors of one of said stripping operations, and subjecting the condensed oil together with the condensate from one of the subsequent partial condensing and rectiyi ssociated therewith.- testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of September, 1927.V WILLIAM H. BAHLKE.

ng operations to the' 

